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Role details

Salix Non-Executive Director Board Chair

Application deadline 21 July 2023

Summary

• Organisation: Salix Finance Ltd
• Sponsor department: Department for Energy Security & Net Zero
• Location: Various
• Sectors: Energy
• Skills: Accountancy, Audit and Risk, Change Management, Major Projects, Transformation
• Number of vacancies: 1
• Time commitment: 48 day(s) per annum
• Remuneration: £500 per day
• Length of term: Successful candidates will be appointed for an initial three-year term.
• Application deadline: 11:55pm on 21 July 2023

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Timeline for this appointment

1. Opening date

   14 June 2023

2. Application deadline

   11:55pm on 21 July 2023

3. Sifting date

   10 October 2023

4. Interviews expected to end on

   1 December 2023

Timeline dates are only an estimate and can change

About the role

Introduction

It is an exciting time to join Salix and we are now recruiting a new Non-Executive Director Board Chair who will support our CEO and provide oversight to the Board, ensuring that Salix continues to be seen as a national exemplar in its field, delivering the Government’s ambitions in achieving net zero. The Chair is expected to uphold the highest standards of integrity, probity, impartiality and objectivity and to be the driving force in ensuring that the Board and Salix’s executive team are instilling the appropriate culture, values and behaviours in the boardroom and beyond. As Non-Executive Director Chair, you will also help oversee Salix’s management of a number of smaller public sector schemes on behalf of the Department for Education and the Scottish and Welsh Governments.

You will be an experienced non-executive director with an in-depth understanding of regulated environments, particularly with regards to ensuring the integrity of effective governance. A proven leader, you will build strong relationships at a senior level and demonstrate an awareness of public policy developments as well as an ability to shape and implement strategy through periods of transformation and uncertainty. Experience of chairing and working with or for Local Authorities and / or Housing Associations is desirable.

The role is a challenging yet rewarding one and offers the successful candidate the opportunity to have a positive impact on the next generation and beyond.

Salix Finance operates as a Non-Departmental Public Body, under the sponsorship of the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero. This appointment is a Public Appointment. Public Appointments are made on merit following a fair and open competition process which is conducted in accordance with the Governance Code for Public Appointments. It is expected that this appointment will be made by the end of the year.

Introduction from the Secretary of State

Dear Candidate,

Thank you for your interest in the role of Non-Executive Director Chair at Salix Finance Ltd.

Salix Finance Ltd. (“Salix”) is a Non-Departmental Public Body (NDPB) of the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero. Salix’s purpose is to operate and deliver schemes for government:

• In the Public Sector – Salix provides finance to public sector and similar organisations to drive down their carbon emissions, including through heat decarbonisation and energy efficiency measures. The body has an excellent track record of delivering public sector loan schemes since 2004, more recently becoming an NDPB in 2020 and delivering grants worth £1 billion. Salix has been allocated a further £1.425 billion to deliver between 2022 and 2025.

• In the Housing Sector – Salix also provides grants to improve the energy efficiency of social housing and other private residential homes in England. This is through the Government’s domestic retrofit schemes; Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund and Home Upgrade Grant. Now is an exciting time to join Salix as it expands its portfolio and steps up to deliver grants and match funding totalling £2.5 billion to 2025.

The organisation is undergoing a real transformation as it continues to play a pivotal role in ensuring the Government meets its ambitious Carbon Budget targets, by slashing public sector greenhouse emissions by 50% by 2032 and by 75% by 2037 compared to 2017 levels.

As Non-Executive Director Chair, you will also help oversee Salix’s management of a number of smaller public sector schemes on behalf of the Department for Education and the Scottish and Welsh Governments.

We welcome candidates who will provide the level of strategic focus and expertise to steer Salix towards meeting government ambitions, including providing visible leadership in Manchester, building on ambitious progress under the Places for Growth agenda.

Applications are welcome from candidates of all backgrounds, and we particularly welcome applications from groups which are typically under-represented in public sector Board appointments and those based outside of London.

Lord Callanan

Minister for Energy Efficiency and Green Finance

Role description

The role of the Salix Non-Executive Director Board Chair (“the Chair”) is to ensure that Salix’s policies and actions support the wider strategic policies of the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (“the department”) and that its affairs are conducted with probity.

Where appropriate, the Chair will support the Salix CEO in ensuring that the department’s policies and how Salix will support them, are clearly communicated, and disseminated throughout Salix.

Recognised chairing skills are required such that the Board is enabled to understand the challenges faced by the organisation and the proposals to address them, to challenge the status quo and to lead, guide and support the Executive and to make informed and effective decisions.

Over 2023/24 to 2024/25, the Chair’s leadership will be particularly instrumental in ensuring that Salix can successfully deliver across three strategic objectives:

1. Ensuring that Salix continues to be seen as a national exemplar in its field in delivering the Government’s ambitions in achieving net zero;

2. Ensuring the timely implementation of recommendations arising from the departmental reviews of Salix undertaken during 2022/23 and any future reviews; and

3. Making good progress on locating roles outside of London under the Government’s Places for Growth agenda.

The Chair will have an obligation to ensure that:

• the work of the Board is regularly reviewed and is working effectively. The Chair will also Chair the Audit and Risk Committee and will draw upon their financial acumen and professional experience to ensure financial probity and transparency.

• the Board has a balance of skills appropriate to directing Salix’s business, as set out in the Government’s Code of Practice for Corporate Governance; and

• they and the other Non-Executive Directors (NEDs) receive appropriate training on financial management and reporting requirements, covering any differences that may exist between private and public sector practice, including the department’s NEDs Partnership’s training.

The Chair is expected to uphold the highest standards of integrity, probity, impartiality, and objectivity and to be the driving force in ensuring that the Board and Salix’s executive directors are instilling the appropriate culture, values, and behaviours in the boardroom and beyond.

Organisation description

Salix has recently expanded its portfolio and is at the forefront of delivering key energy efficiency and decarbonisation schemes in buildings across England. Specifically, Salix is the Delivery Body for the Government’s Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme (PSDS) and Public Sector Low Carbon Skills Fund (LCSF). The PSDS provides grant funding to public sector organisations for heat decarbonisation and energy efficiency projects to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from public sector buildings. The LCSF provides funding to ensure public sector organisations have the capacity and capability to develop heat decarbonisation projects.

Since its formation in 2004 up to 31 March 2022, Salix has helped public sector organisations commit to more than 21,500 projects by administering;

£2.7 billion of funding, with projects saving 1.1 million tonnes of carbon dioxide annually.

This year Salix has also become the Delivery Agent for two domestic retrofit programmes within the government’s Net Zero Buildings Portfolio. Salix will be responsible for the provision of grants via a separate Delivery Partner to improve the energy efficiency of the Social Housing stock and other private residential homes in England (the domestic retrofit schemes). In addition, Salix will be providing strategic value through its own Intelligent Client Function, harnessing data insights to understand how retrofit policy and delivery can be optimised and building learning communities across grant recipients to understand best practice.

Public Sector buildings

Salix is playing a pivotal role in helping to realise the Government’s ambition for the public sector set out in the Net Zero Strategy and Heat & Buildings Strategy (both launched in October 2021), to reduce direct emissions from public sector buildings by 75% from 2017 levels by the end of 2037.

Board composition

Information on the board composition can be found https://www.salixfinance.co.uk/about-us/our-governance

Person specification

Essential criteria

An understanding of the organisations core objectives and public policy developments, and the ability to utilise this to set strategic direction.

• Evidence of effective leadership within a large organisation, including during periods of transformation, change and uncertainty.

• Ability to build relationships with a range of stakeholders, and experience of influencing, challenging, and building consensus at a senior level.

• A strong understanding of governance processes, ideally gained through prior board experience.

• Experience of working with senior public policy makers and implementation of public policy.

Desirable criteria

Experience of acting as a Board Chair;

• Experience working with or for Local Authorities and/or Housing Associations;

• Experience in managing external delivery partners to deliver high quality outcomes; and/or an understanding of how to operate in the public sector organisation and make evidence-based recommendations to inform future government policy and strategy.

• Excellent media and communication skills.

Application and selection process

How to apply

GatenbySanderson has been appointed as our executive search partner to assist with this appointment.

To apply for this post, you will need to complete the online application process by no later than 23.55pm Friday 21st July 2023. All applications must be submitted using the link. http://www.gatenbysanderson.com/job/GSe98826

You are asked to submit the following:

1.A CV setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements (pleasetailor this the role criteria). Please ensure you have provided reasons for any gaps within the last two years.

2.A Statement of Suitability (no longer than three pages) explaining:

a.Your motivation for applying for this role

b.How you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience provide evidence ofyour suitability for the role, with particular reference to the criteria in the person specification

Failure to submit both documents will mean the panel only have limited information on which to assess your application against the criteria in the person specification. Please ensure that both documents contain your full name. 

In addition, to be considered for the role, you will be asked to complete a Diversity Monitoring Form and a Declaration of Conflicts of Interest/Political Activity form. Should you encounter any issues with your online application, are unable to apply online or require any reasonable adjustmentment (due to a disability) please contact kirsten.hasseriis@gatenbysanderson.com 

At Salix we are committed to creating a workplace that is diverse and inclusive, and we therefore particularly welcome applications from women, BAME, LGBT+ and disabled candidates. We value the unique differences that each of our colleagues bring to work every day and are committed to creating an environment where everyone feels respected, included, and able to perform at their best.

For a confidential discussion please contact our recruitment advisers at GatenbySanderson: 

Khadeeja Khalid, Researcher 

khadeeja.khalid@gatenbysanderson.com 

0113 205 6094 

Darra Power-Mooney, Senior Consultant, Central Government 

darra.power-mooney@gatenbysanderson.com 

07595781609

Process

You will receive an acknowledgment of your application through the online process.

The Panel will then assess your application to select those demonstrating the best fit with the role by considering the evidence you have provided against the criteria set out in the ‘Person Specification’ section. Failure to address any or all of these may affect your application.

If you are shortlisted, you will be asked to attend a panel interview in order to have a more in-depth discussion of your previous experience and professional competence in relation to the criteria set out in the Person Specification. Prior to interview, you may have the opportunity for informal conversations with key personnel in order to improve your understanding of the organisation.

Please note: Due Diligence searches will be undertaken on shortlisted candidates and Reference may be taken up prior to any advice being put to Ministers.

Interviews may be conducted remotely, via video conference, but we may require your attendance in person at some elements, subject to mutual agreement.

Overview of the application process

Public appointments are made on merit following a fair and open competition process which is conducted in accordance with the Governance Code for Public Appointments. We will deal with your application as quickly as possible and will keep you informed at key stages. We aim to conclude the appointment process within three months of the deadline for applications – this is in accordance with the Governance Code.

The assessment process

1. Ministers are responsible and accountable to Parliament for the public appointments made within their department. As a result, they must be consulted at every stage of the appointments process.

2. An Advisory Assessment Panel (“Panel”) is appointed by Ministers to assist them in their decision making. The role of the Panel is to decide, objectively, which candidates meet the eligibility criteria for the role.

3. At the shortlisting meeting the Panel will assess applications against the eligibility criteria and decide which candidates have best met the criteria, who should be recommended for interview. Ministers will then be consulted on the Panel’s recommended shortlist. If you have applied under the Disability Confident Scheme and you meet all the essential criteria, then you will also be invited for an interview.

4. Once the shortlist has been agreed by Ministers, you will be advised (by e-mail) whether you have been shortlisted. Those shortlisted will be invited to an interview.

5. The Panel will meet again to interview candidates and determine who is appointable to the role. The Panel may invite you to make a brief presentation at the start of the interview and will go on to question you about your skills and experience, including asking specific questions to assess whether you meet the criteria set out for the post. The Panel will also explore with you any potential conflicts of interest or any other issues arising from your personal and professional history which may impact on an appointment decision.

6. Details of the panel’s assessment of interviewed candidates are provided to Ministers, including whether they have judged a candidate to be appointable to the role. It is then for Ministers to determine merit and decide who should be appointed. In some circumstances, Ministers may choose not to appoint any candidates and re-run the competition.

7. Ministers may choose to meet with candidates before deciding the outcome. Candidates should therefore be prepared for a short time gap between interview and a final appointment decision being made. Candidates who have been interviewed will be kept informed of progress.

8. Once the decision on the appointment has been made, interviewed candidates will be advised of the outcome of their application, including whom they may approach for feedback. Successful candidates will be issued with their Terms & Conditions and a letter of appointment should they agree to take up the position.

Further information about appointments, including tips on applying, can be found on our guidance pages on gov.uk.

Advisory Assessment Panel (AAP)

• Ben Rimmington, (Director General, Net Zero Buildings & Industry) - Department Representative and Panel Chair
• Martin Cave (Chair, Ofgem) - Other representative
• Olivia Bloomfield - Independent Panel Member

Advisory Assessment Panels (AAP) are chosen by ministers to assist them in their decision-making. These include a departmental official and an independent member. For competitions recruiting non-executive members of a board (apart from the Chair), the panel will usually include a representative from the public body concerned.

AAP’s perform a number of functions, including agreeing an assessment strategy with ministers, undertaking sifting, carrying out interviews in line with the advertised criteria and deciding objectively who meets the published selection criteria for the role before recommending to ministers which candidates they find appointable. It is then for the minister to decide who to appoint to the role.

Eligibility criteria

In general, you should have the right to work in the UK to be eligible to apply for a public appointment.

There are a small number of specialist roles that are not open to non-British citizens. Any nationality requirements will be specified in the vacancy details.

The Government expects all holders of public office to work to the highest personal and professional standards. 

You cannot be considered for a public appointment if:

• you are disqualified from acting as a company director  (under the Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986);

• have an unspent conviction on your criminal record;

• your estate has been sequestrated in Scotland or you enter into a debt arrangement programme under Part 1 of the Debt Arrangement and Attachment (Scotland) Act 2002 (asp 17) as the debtor or have, under Scots law, granted a trust deed for creditors.

When you apply, you should declare if:

• you are, or have been, bankrupt or you have made an arrangement with a creditor at any point, including the dates of this. 

• you are subject to a current police investigation.

You must inform the sponsor department if, during the application process, your circumstances change in respect of any of the above points. 

When you apply you should also declare any relevant interests, highlighting any that you think may call into question your ability to properly discharge the responsibilities of the role you are applying for. You should also declare any other matters which may mean you may not be able to meet the requirements of the Code of Conduct of Board Members (see Outside interests and reputational issues section below)

If you need further advice, please contact:

Khadeeja Khalid, Researcher 

Khadeeja.khalid@gatenbysanderson.com

0113 205 6094

Darra Power-Mooney, Senior Consultant, Central Government

darra.power-mooney@gatenbysanderson.com

07595 781609

Security clearance

The successful candidate will be required to undertake Baseline Personnel Security Standard checks in line with the Civil Service guidelines. Additional Security Clearance may also be required for certain roles. However, where this applies, candidates will be notified during the appointment process. Further information on National Security Vetting can be found on the Gov.uk website here.

Additional information for candidates

Equality and diversity

We encourage applications from talented individuals from all backgrounds and across the whole of the United Kingdom. Boards of public bodies are most effective when they reflect the diversity of views of the society they serve and this is an important part of the Government’s levelling up agenda.

We collect data about applicants’ characteristics and backgrounds, including information about people’s educational and professional backgrounds, so that we can make sure we are attracting a broad range of people to these roles and that our selection processes are fair for everyone. Without this information, it makes it difficult to see if our outreach is working, if the application process is having an unfair impact on certain groups and whether changes are making a positive difference.

When you submit your application, your responses are collected by the Cabinet Office and the government department(s) managing your application. The data is used to produce management information about the diversity of applicants. You can select “prefer not to say” to any question you do not wish to answer. The information you provide will not be seen by the Advisory Assessment Panel who review applications against the advertised criteria and conduct interviews.

Disability confident

We are a member of the Government’s Disability Confident scheme. We use the Disability Confident scheme symbol, along with other like-minded employers, to show our commitment to good practice in employing people with a disability. The scheme helps recruit and retain disabled people. 

As part of implementing the scheme, we guarantee an interview for anyone with a disability whose application meets the essential criteria for the role, set out in the advert, and who has asked that their application is considered under the scheme. Indicating that you wish your application to be considered under the scheme will in no way prejudice your application. By ‘minimum criteria,’ we mean that you must provide evidence which demonstrates that you meet the level of competence required under each of the essential criteria, as set out in the job-advert.

When you apply you will have the opportunity to select if you would like your application considered under this scheme.

Reasonable adjustments

We are committed to making reasonable adjustments to make sure applicants with disabilities, physical or mental health conditions, or other needs are not substantially disadvantaged when applying for public appointments. This can include changing the recruitment process to enable people who wish to apply to do so.

Some examples of common changes are:

• ensuring that application forms are available in different or accessible formats;
• making adaptations to interview locations;
• allowing candidates to present their skills and experience in a different way;
• giving additional detailed information on the selection / interview process in advance to allow candidates time to prepare themselves;
• allowing support workers, for example sign language interpreters;
• making provision for support animals to attend.

When you apply you will have the opportunity to request reasonable adjustments to the application process.

Principles of public life

Holders of public office are expected to adhere to and uphold the Seven Principles of Public Life. These are:

1. Selflessness - Holders of public office should act solely in terms of the public interest.
2. Integrity - Holders of public office must avoid placing themselves under any obligation to people or organisations that might try inappropriately to influence them in their work. They should not act or take decisions in order to gain financial or other material benefits for themselves, their family, or their friends. They must declare and resolve any interests and relationships.
3. Objectivity - Holders of public office must act and take decisions impartially, fairly and on merit, using the best evidence and without discrimination or bias.
4. Accountability - Holders of public office are accountable to the public for their decisions and actions and must submit themselves to the scrutiny necessary to ensure this.
5. Openness - Holders of public office should act and take decisions in an open and transparent manner. Information should not be withheld from the public unless there are clear and lawful reasons for so doing.
6. Honesty - Holders of public office should be truthful.
7. Leadership - Holders of public office should exhibit these principles in their own behaviour and treat others with respect. They should actively promote and robustly support the principles and challenge poor behaviour wherever it occurs.

Code of conduct for board members

The Government expects all holders of public office to work to the highest personal and professional standards. In support of this, all non-executive board members of UK public bodies must abide by the principles set out in the Code of Conduct for Board Members of Public Bodies. The Code sets out the standards expected from those who serve on the boards of UK public bodies and will form part of your terms and conditions of appointment.

Management of outside interests and consideration of reputational issues

Holders of public office are expected to adhere and uphold the Seven Principles of Public Life and the Code of Conduct for Board Members of Public Bodies. Before you apply you should consider carefully: 

• any outside interests that you may have, such as shares you may hold in a company providing services to government; 
• any possible reputational issues arising from your past actions or public statements that you have made; 
• and/or - any political roles you hold or political campaigns you have supported; 

which may call into question your ability to do the role you are applying for.

You will need to answer relevant questions in relation to these points when making an application. Many conflicts of interest can be satisfactorily resolved and declaring a potential conflict does not prevent you from being interviewed. If you are shortlisted for an interview, the panel will discuss any potential conflicts with you during that interview, including any proposals you may have to mitigate them and record that in their advice to ministers. Alongside your own declaration, we will conduct appropriate checks, as part of which we will consider anything in the public domain related to your conduct or professional capacity. This may include searches of previous public statements and social media, blogs or any other publicly available information. The successful candidate(s) may be required to give up any conflicting interests and their other business and financial interests may be published in line with organisational policies. 

Details of declared political activity will be published when the appointment is announced, as required by the Governance Code (political activity is not a bar to appointment, but must be declared).

Status of appointment

As this is an office holder appointment, you will not become a member of the Civil Service. You will not be subject to the provisions of employment law.

Appointment and tenure of office

Appointments are for the term set out in this advert, with the possibility of re-appointment for a further term, at the discretion of Ministers.  Any re-appointment is subject to satisfactory annual appraisals of performance during the first term in the post. There is no automatic presumption of reappointment; each case should be considered on its own merits, taking into account a number of factors including, but not restricted to, the diversity of the current board and its balance of skills and experience. In most cases, the total time served in post will not exceed more than two terms or serve in any one post for more than ten years

Remuneration, allowances and abatement

Remuneration for this role is treated as employment income and will be subject to tax and National Insurance contributions, both of which will be deducted at source under PAYE before you are paid. 

You can claim reimbursement for reasonable travel and subsistence costs which are properly and necessarily incurred on official business, in line with the travel and subsistence policy and rates for the organisation to which you are applying. However these payments are taxable as earnings and will be subject to tax and national insurance, both of which will be deducted at source under PAYE before you are paid.

Pension and redundancy

This is an office holder appointment and does not attract any benefits under any Civil Service Pension Scheme. You will not be eligible for redundancy pay as you are not an employee. No other arrangements have been made for compensation upon the end of your term of appointment because an office holder who is appointed for a limited duration would have no expectation of serving beyond that period.

Application feedback

We will notify you of the status of your application. We regret that we are only able to offer detailed feedback to candidates who have been unsuccessful at the interview stage.

How to complain

We aim to process all applications as quickly as possible and to treat all applicants with courtesy.

Please contact the public appointments team in the first instance if you would like to make a complaint regarding your application at publicappointments@cabinetoffice.gov.uk . They will acknowledge your complaint upon receipt and respond within 15 working days.

Data protection

The Cabinet Office will use your data in line with our privacy policy.

Please find DESNZ privacy policy attached to this advert.

Contact details

If you would like further details please contact:Khadeeja Khalid, Researcher Khadeeja.khalid@gatenbysanderson.com

0113 205 6094

Darra Power-Mooney, Senior Consultant, Central Government

darra.power-mooney@gatenbysanderson.com

07595 781609

Attachments

• Privacy Notice